I need some network tools...

[killerkebab]

I have a home network centred around a Netgear DG836(?) router. All great and all, but I need to know if I can use a few tools to help me monitor it.

I need a network bandwidth monitor. My sister uses obscene amounts of upload for useless crap like shoutcast and sending MP3s to everyone of her school friends. I want to know how much of the DSL bandwidth she is raping from her machine.

Along those lines, I need a network bandwidth limiter. I want to limit her upload on the internet to something like 5kb/s because all she does otherwise is browse the web, and I don't think she'd need any more than that.

Is there a way to find out what ports she is sending data on and which application on her PC is using said ports? When I wanted to block her shoutcast I went on her PC using Remote Admin and looked up the shoutcast ports and then blocked those on the network. However for things like MSN sharing folders (to which she added something along the lines of 800(!) mp3s) I don't know which ports exactly so I could use some sort of monitor which can tell me which application is using what ports and how much bandwidth. However that isn't quite as important as the first two tools, which I could really use.

I haven't had a game with less than 300 ping in days :(

[Mark]

Unfortunately I doubt the Netgear range has QoS (Quality of Service) or Rate Limiting, which would sort this out straight away.

Shoutcast? What on earth? Is she some sort of wannabe DJ? :)

[killerkebab]

She's 12 and I could show you her winamp playlist if you wish - that will answer your questions :p

[Dr. Z]

Just accidentally unplug her network cable from the router every time she stops you getting your fair share of the connection. Thats what I did to my sister and she soon got the idea.

[killerkebab]

She'll moan to my dad and I'll get a kick in the face for it. I need something which won't stop her using the net... but which will stop her ruining mine :)

[Mark]

Well, there's an answer to that, but it involves dumping your sister in the **** for illegal filesharing.

[Haly]

Just accidentally unplug her network cable from the router every time she stops you getting your fair share of the connection. Thats what I did to my sister and she soon got the idea.

Hehe that was what I used to do to my housemate :D

Afraid that was my solution :/
I know Daz had a few suggestions when I asked him about it before but iirc it wasn't stuff I could do easily because it involved installing software on my housemate's PC.

[Mark]

Yes, there's always that option. Plenty of software for limiting network bandwidth from an individual PC.

[killerkebab]

I can install stuff on her PC, I just need to know what I can use to monitor how much upstream she's using and then something to limit that amount :)

[Haly]

http://www.netlimiter.com/ is one I used years ago (to the point that I can't remember why I needed it), not free but must be acquirable because I don't remember paying for it.

Otherwise I'm sure Daz has some recommendations.

[LeperousDust]

Got a spare *nix box could use that as a router instead of the netgear stuff, highly configurable, highly confusing, but a lot of fun to learn maybe? :D

[killerkebab]

Got a spare *nix box could use that as a router instead of the netgear stuff, highly configurable, highly confusing, but a lot of fun to learn maybe? :DMy dad would probably burst a bunch of veins if it dies when I am out of the house :p

[LeperousDust]

Funny you should say that, the exact thing happened when something died in my smoothwall box back home while i was up here. Everyone went nuts and realised how much of an asset i was :D I just plugged an old router back in when i got home, too much hassle otherwise :p

btw, you got deus ex to share, a-la my other thread dude :D:D:D?

[mejinks]

fake letter from the BPI? Or failing that a letter from your ISP addressed to the person that pays the bill. She'd be lucky to get near a computer.

[Zirax]

This has been mentioned of sorts, but what about an old box running ipcop? The newer versions can limit traffic. If the net stops working when you are out, simply reset the box. It comes back on its own and the net will start working again :)

Even my non-techy house mates could manage that.

Just remembered something else, nab a torrent of kerio firewall and install on her machine. That gives you remote admin rights and a feature of the install is that you can limit ul/dl according to the time of day or even disable net access. This you can pimp to your dad as better security from the evil viruses. When your sister moans that the net isn't working, simply say stop downloading illegal crap from the net.... worked for mine

[LeperousDust]

Good post Zirax :) I used Ipcop ages ago, but it seemed almost identical to smoothwall, is that still the same case? I've not looked into either in over 6 months (maybe a year?) so i suppose a lot could have changed...

[Feek]

I used Netlimiter myself until recently but I noticed it causing massive performance problems when it was doing its thing. That wasn't on just one PC either, it was on multiple boxes so I'd not recommend it any more.

[LeperousDust]

I used Netlimiter myself until recently but I noticed it causing massive performance problems when it was doing its thing. That wasn't on just one PC either, it was on multiple boxes so I'd not recommend it any more.

Agreed i had it on a headless download box in the loft, netlimiter was meant to throttle it in the day and leave it be at night. But it bogged the computer down no end if you left it throttling for a few hours, i'd be restarting the computer almost every day, it was a right PITA